Indian-born American author Salman Rushdie will receive the National Book Foundation’s 2026 Medal for Distinguished Contribution to American Letters, a lifetime achievement honor recognizing his influence on American literature and culture.
Rushdie will accept the medal Nov. 18 during the 77th National Book Awards Ceremony and Benefit Dinner in New York City. Fellow Indian-born novelist Kiran Desai, a longtime friend, will present the honor. Rushdie is the 39th recipient of the medal, which the foundation established in 1988.
The award recognizes writers whose body of work has made an exceptional contribution to the nation’s literary heritage. Previous recipients include Toni Morrison, Maya Angelou, Stephen King, Isabel Allende and Art Spiegelman. The honor carries a $10,000 prize.
Born in Bombay, now Mumbai, in 1947, Rushdie has written 15 novels along with memoirs, essays, short stories and works of nonfiction. His 1981 novel “Midnight’s Children,” which follows India’s transition from British rule to independence, won the Booker Prize and later received the Best of the Booker distinction.
His other major works include “Shame,” “The Satanic Verses,” “The Moor’s Last Sigh,” “Quichotte” and “Victory City.” Across more than five decades, his writing has explored migration, memory, identity, political power and the experience of living between cultures. His books have been translated into more than 40 languages.
Rushdie, a New York resident and U.S. citizen, has also been a prominent advocate for writers and freedom of expression. He served as president of PEN America from 2004 to 2006 and helped establish the PEN World Voices Festival, which brings international writers into conversation with American audiences.
His memoir “Knife: Meditations After an Attempted Murder,” an account of the 2022 attack that left him seriously injured, was a finalist for the 2024 National Book Award for Nonfiction. The recognition extended his longstanding relationship with the National Book Foundation.
The new medal honors both Rushdie’s literary achievements and his role in expanding the boundaries of American writing. His career links South Asia, Britain and the United States while showing how immigrant experience can become central to the national literary story.
Key Takeaways About Salman Rushdie
- He will receive the foundation’s 2026 lifetime achievement medal.
- He is the 39th recipient of the literary honor.
- Kiran Desai will present the medal on Nov. 18.
- His career spans more than five decades and 15 novels.
- He previously served as president of PEN America.
